Signaling device



March 18, 1941. f H. N. CARVER 2,235,280

SIGNALING DEVICE Filed March 8, 1938 idg. 1.-

Patented Mar. 18, 1941 UNiTED STATES PATENT OFFICE 1 Claim.

This invention relates to signaling devices and more particularly to aportable signal adapted to be conveniently placed on highways andsimilar thoroughfares for warning motorists and the like 5 `ofobstructions on a highway.

It is ordinarily difficult for operators of vehicles such as loadedtrucks to pull off the road when itf` also to the truck operators andthe property un` der their control.

It is the principal object of thefpresent invention to provide a signalof the character commonly known as a road flare which is capable ofreflecting and/or refracting light rays generated by the lights ofapproaching vehicles, back to approximately their source to warn theoccupants of those vehicles of the presence of obstructions on roads.

Other important objects of the present invention are to provide acollapsible light reflecting and/or refracting signal of sturdy anddurable construction capable of withstanding shocks and jars withoutdamage to the signal; to so design the signal that it is difficult totip over accidentally; to provide a housing for the reflector-orrefracting element of the signal which also acts as a supportingstandard therefor; to provide a comipact an'd easily operable signal ofa high degree of efliciency; to provide a protective mounting for thereflector or light refracting element of the sig- 35 nal; to provide forautomatcially exposing the reflector or light refracting element of thesignal upon opening the reflector housing; to so arrange the parts ofthe reflector housing as to interlock the same when closed; and toprovide improved parts and arrangements of parts making up a signalingdevice according to the present invention.

In accomplishing these and other objects of the present invention, Ihave provided improved details of structure, the preferred forms ofwhich are illustrated in the accompanying drawing, wherein:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a signaling device embodying thefeatures of the present invention showing the device in collapsedcondition to facilitate the storage and transportation thereof.

Fig. 2 is a detail fragmentary perspective view of a portion of thesignal housing, particularly illustrating the interlockingl lugs andrecesses thereof.

55 Fig. 3 is an end elevational view of the signaling device, part ofthe housing being broken away to illustrate the relative `position ofthe reflector therein.

' Fig. liis a detail perspective view of the signaling device in openedoperative condition.

Fig. 5 is a detail fragmentary vertical crosssection through'v the lightreflecting and/or re- -fracting element ofthe signaling device on theline 5 5, Fig. 4.

Fig. 6 isa View similar to Fig. 5, illustrating a modified form ofreflector and/or refractor element.

Referring more in detail to the drawing:

The invention generally includes atwo part cover or housing member I,Fig. l, forming an enclosing base or standard for a light reflectingand/or re fracting signal element 2,v` Fig. 4, the housing member I andsignal element 2 being interconnected in such a manner that the housingis adapted to enclose the signal for suitable storage, the housing whenopened automatically raising the signal to operative position andforming a rigid standard for adequately supporting the signal to reflectand/ or refract light rays. in opposite directions back to approximatelytheir respective sources of incidence. k

In the present instance the housing members of a signaling deviceembodying this invention are shown to preferably include substantiallyduplicate plates 3 and 4 cast or otherwise suitably formed ofsubstantially circular shape, each having a substantiallycontinuousperipheral laterally turned flange 5 having spaced recesses 6 and 1 ofdifferent size extending into the body of each of the plates and eachflange having a lug 8 and notch 9 adjacent the lug insubstantially-oppositely disposed relation to the recesses 6 and 1 ofthe respective plates.

The plates 3 and 4 are preferably thickened over a limited area as at I0adjacent their recessed portions to form a bearing surface for ad- Ijacent endsof the platesy when opened and a boss II is preferably formedintegrally on each of the plates between the recesses, the bossextending outwardly relative to the peripheries of the plates. Thebosses I I are each provided with an outer face I2 preferably flush withthe outer face of its Aplate and has a laterally extending rounded endI3 opposite the face I2 forminga substantially semi-circular lug at theinner end of each of the bosses.

The signal element 2 preferably comprises oppositely disposed plates I4and I5I each preferably formed of colored rolled glass or similar ysubstantially transparent material having suitable outer faces Vandpreferably prismatic .inner faces I6 for reflecting and/or refractinglight rays impinging against the outer faces back approximate theirsource of incidence. Lustrous backings I1 may if desired be provided onthe prismatic backs of the signal plates Il and I5 which not only servethe purpose of enhancing the reiiccting properties of the signal plates,but also prevent the collection of dust in the pockets formed at thejunctures of the sides of the prisms athus rendering the signaleffective over long periods of time.

The edges of the signal plates are mounted within mating frame membersI8 and I9 Awhich are preferably of substantially circular or ring shapeof a size adapting them for fitting within the flanges 5 of the housingplates. The frames preferably have concaved inner surfaces and 2lprovided with spaced alignable bosses 22 which, in practice, initiate atthe edges 23 of the frame concavities in such a manner that they areadapted for engagement by a corresponding boss on the other frame. Thebosses terminate short of the edges 23 of the frame concavities to formseats for the peripheral edges of the signal plates I4 and I5. The outerside edges of the plates are arranged for engagement by" the edges 23andthese edges of the frames secure the plates in position. The signalplate frames may be secured together in a suitable manner as by theextension of fastening devices 24 through aligned apertures 25 in thebosses.

A portion of the periphery of each signal plat frame is preferablyflattened asshown at 28, Fig. 4, the portion 2B of the frame I9 beingprovided with outwardly extending bosses 21 and 28 having substantiallysquared outer corners. The bosses 21 and 28 are provided with apertures29 adapted to be aligned with similar apertures 30 in the .bosses vII onthe housing plates to receive a suitable hinge pin 3| therein to hingeor pivot the housing plates onto and about the signal element.

As a matter of practice,'the signal plates Il and I5 are preferablyspaced, as shown at 32, Fig, 5, and the outer-edges of the plates areengaged in grooves 33 and 34 of a gasket 35 mounted in the signal plateframes for cushioning the signal plates relative to their support andthereby permitting relatively rough treatment of the assembled deviceswithout danger oi 'breakingthe signal plates. The space 32 between thereflectors may, if desired, be filled with a suitable plastic 35 or thelike for additionally supporting the signal plates. Separation of thesignal plates effects an economy since if one of the signal plates isbroken, the other may still be used, the gaskets and/or plastic materialacting to hold the unbroken signal plate in its frame so that thesignaling device may be employed to warn approaching motorists from atleast one direction.

Also as a matter of practice, the housing plates are provided ontheirouter surfaces, with bosses 36 spaced inwardly from the thickenedportions of the plates to form bearing points for the devices whenopened and to protect an identifying mark or the like, not shown, on theouter surfaces of the signaling devicesz Instructive characters 36' mayalso be provided on the inner faces of the housing plates for aiding anoperator in the proper use of the signaling device.

The assembly and operation of a signaling device constructed asdescribed is as follows:

A pair of the housing plates 3 and l are preferably employed together infacing relation, that is, with the peripheral edges of the flanges 5 inabutting relation and with the lugs and recesses arranged ininterlocking relation. Since the plates are-similarly designed they maybe oppositely disposed relative to each .other in such a manner that thebosses II are positioned adjacent each other in side by side relation,as shown in Fig. 1, when one of the plates is superimposed upon theother plate. The flanges 5 of the housing plates space the body portionsthereof sufllciently for receiving therewithin the signal plate framemembers I8 and I8 which. after being equipped with the signal plates Iland I5 mounted on'the gasket 35 in spaced back to back relation, arefitted and secured together.

One of the outwardly extending bosses on the frame 2, for examplethevboss 28, is thenmounted in the smaller recess 5 of one of thehousing plates, the other boss 21 of the frame iltting on the outside ofthe opposite housing plate boss beyond approximately ninety degreeseffects movement oi' the signal element frame, through interengagementof the squared ends ofthe respective bosses thereof, to substantiallyvertical position, thus placing the signal element in effectivecondition to reflect and/or refract light rays from either side thereofin opposite direc. tions back to approximately the sources of therespective light rays.

In open condition, the housing plates are in substantially the samehorizontal plane, i. .e. coplanar relationship and provide a standard ofsubstantial area to rigidlyvsupport the reflector in erected condition,thus precluding accidental hinging of the signal element to closedcondition.

It is apparent that the present device may be placed either in front of,at the sideof, or behind a vehicle on a road and that either of thesignal plates may be faced toward either direction of approachingtraillc on the highway to warn the occupants oi vehicles of the presenceof an obstruction on the highway.

Closing the signaling device is a very simple matter and any intentionalthrust applied to the signal element in either direction of hingingmovement of the housing plates and signal element forces the signalelement downwardly and carries with it one of the housing plates toposition that housing plate in a vertical position, the moved housingplate ordinarily following the signal element to oppositely disposedhorizontal position. The peripheral flange on the moved housing platethen abuts its mating flange on the hance the reflecting and/orreiracting qualities thereof.

In this instance, the buttons are mounted in the.v

signal plates from the rear li'aces of the plates prior to mounting theplates in spaced relation in the signal plate frames and u.

The construction'. assembly and operation in the modiiied form ofinvention is. aside from the button type of reiiecting and/or refractingelement substantially similar to that of the preierr form of invention.

The principal advantages or a signaling device embodying the features ofthepresent invention are that it is strong, rigid. durable and willwithstand rough treatment. The housing plates or members may be verysimply dipped open or closed to and from intel-locked engagement toplacethe signal element in-eifective or enclosed condition. v

, 3 Since the hou'sing plates. when open, have bearing support ontheir'outer surface bosses, the tendency oi' the outer ends of theplates is to gravitate downwardly, thus holding the signal element morerigidly in verticaLoperative condi- 5 tion.

The device is very compact and may be conveniently stored in any type ofvehicle. Light rays may be reilected and/or retracted from either sideof the signal element. Further, lo

l should one4 oi' the signal plates be broken, the

other signal plate ls still eiIective to warn approaching motorists ofthe. presence of obstructions to thus protect lives and property. e

' What I claim and desire to secure by Letters 15 Patent is: f

A road signal including a pair of mating housing members. a frameadapted to carry a signal element. and means hinging said frame andhousing members .relative to each other, said housing 20 members havingengageable iianges forming with the housing members an enclosure for theframe, said flanges having duplicate oppositely arranged interengageablemeans respectively for locking the housing members relative to eachother'when 25 in closed condition.-

. HORACE N. CARVER.

